Imtech defines CSR as the proactive meeting of society’s demands and stakeholders’ (implicit) expectations regarding social and ecological issues. Imtech wishes to exceed the legally stipulated obligations. In addition to the execution of numerous sustainability and social projects Imtech also looks at how its own primary business activities can contribute towards a sustainable development. Imtech endorses a pragmatic approach and wishes to conduct itself as an aware and proactive company that makes a major, and preferably measurable, contribution towards a livable and sustainable society.
In 2007 and 2008 Imtech succeeded in achieving the following CSR initiatives:
Business & HR-principles
In the Imtech Business Principles and the Imtech HR Principles Imtech sets out its view that corporate social responsibility, transparency and integrity are intrinsic to the functioning of Imtech and are applicable to all Imtech employees.
Building a CSR community
A communication campaign has led to Imtech in the Netherlands building up a database of over 350 employees who are interested in CSR, who want to be kept informed of ongoing CSR projects and who have indicated their willingness to be included in new CSR initiatives.
A green vehicle fleet
In 2008 Imtech’s total Dutch fleet of leased vehicles ran on environment-saving fuel. Which means Imtech reduced fuel usage by 380,000 litres and prevented 980,000 kilo of harmful CO2 emissions. In 2009 this initiative will be followed-up in other Imtech countries.
Socially responsible procurement
A Code of Supply, based on the carbon footprint – a criterion whereby the influence of human activity on the environment is measured – has been developed for our suppliers and our own general and technical services suppliers. In this context, in 2009 a start will be made on quantifying the number of kilometres travelled, energy usage and the use of paper and water.
Green energy in our own offices
Imtech’s Dutch offices have switched to green electricity. This involves 10 million kWh of electricity a year for a period of at least three years. During 2009 the implementation of this initiative in other European countries will be considered.
Corporate Citizenship: Shared Success in Developing Countries (SSDC)
In 2008 a multi-disciplinary Imtech team travelled to Soweto in South Africa to contribute towards a Corporate Social Responsibility project in which cooking oil that has been used for frying or baking is converted into high-quality biodiesel. A multifaceted project which has positive environmental, health, poverty reduction, employment and training effects for the local population. In 2009 a start will be made on a second corporate citizenship project that will be deployed internationally within Imtech.
ISO 14001 certification
Imtech in the UK had already been awarded ISO 14001 certification. In 2008 Imtech’s Spanish companies were awarded ISO 14001 certification. Acquired company NVS, the foundation for Imtech Nordic, is also 14001 certificated. Certification of several other Imtech countries will follow in 2009 and 2010.
Icos Cleantech Fund I: early involvement in innovative sustainable technology
Imtech, along with CSM, Farm Frites and Icos Capital, is a participant in the Icos Cleantech Fund I. This is a fund in which technology experts, entrepreneurs and scientists work together with the objective of bringing promising technologies to development. The focus is on food, energy and waste combined with innovative new sustainable technologies.
Green Office 2015®
Green Office 2015® is an innovative vision whereby inner-city areas, criss-crossed by infrastructure (rail, roads, water) are elevated to multi-functional areas in which living, working and recreation are interwoven in a sustainable way. A concrete plan has been worked out for a flexible, innovative and sustainable 50,000m2 office building that provides energy without making any concessions to comfort.
‘Green’ Imtech office
Imtech has made a start on its own trend-setting sustainable office in Eindhoven that will serve as an example in the field of energy usage, CO2 emissions and environmental burden.
QHSE: Quality, Health, Safety and Environment
All the Imtech companies meet the highest QHSE standards, are certified on the basis of the relevant ISO quality standards, have the necessary safety certification and also have extra certification for specific projects. QHSE is guaranteed by a management system that is regularly checked and optimised. The QHSE performance of partners and suppliers is expected to be at least comparable to that of Imtech. Imtech’s policy focuses on continuous process improvement and a better and better HSE performance. Imtech goes far further than the legal obligations. The improvement targets can be measured using numerous audits and customer evaluations.
In 2008 a multi-disciplinary Dutch Imtech team travelled to Soweto in South Africa to contribute towards a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in which cooking oil, that has been used for frying or baking, is converted into high-quality biodiesel. A multifaceted project which has positive environmental, health, poverty reduction, employment and training effects for the local population. It was the first project in the multi-year Shared Success in Developing Countries (SSDC) programme with which Imtech is showing that -as a company- it is doing more than the legal requirements. In 2009 a start will be made on a second corporate citizenship project that will be deployed internationally within Imtech.
Recently the Board of Mangement of Imtech has approved two new campaigns in South Africa: developing energy saving instruments for the non-govermental organisation Nova (in Pretoria) and 'Ubuntu Plakkies' (in Durban). Please read on if you want to learn more about these unique corporate citizenship campaigns related to the CSR (Corporate Social Responsiblity) policy of Imtech!
B.R.I.M. (Boudewijn) Gerner
CFO / Member of the Imtech Board of Management
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Energy Saving Instruments for Nova (Pretoria)
The Nova Institute is a non-govermental organisation with the mission of creating a healthy household culture in Southern Africa. The Nova mission is to develop and promote smart solutions (e.g. models, products, technologies) to improve the quality of life of low-income households.The Nova Institute is involved with a number of projects all pertaining to the household environment. Its focus areas include Home-based Economy, Home-based Care, Domestic Energy and Living Environment.
The Nova Institute is in the process of establishing the People’s PoweR Project (PPR). The PPR promotes the Nova mission by developing models of three types of social class communities (rich, middle-class and poor) using smart domestic energy solutions planning for the mass roll-out of these models.
The ultimate aim is to introduce new technologies that use renewable energy sources. The aim of the first phase (PPR) is to determine what behavior change would lead to the most efficient electricity usage, resulting in an overall lower electrical base line for households. This includes measuring the accumulative saving effect that different households have as a benefit to their community.
Nova has requested Imtech to develop two tools which are required for the implementation of their projects in general and the PPR project in specific.
- Household Appliances Inventory methodology
- Household Energy Consumption monitoring system
Ubuntu Plakkies, helping HIV-infected people (Durban)
Ubuntu is a limited company under South African law. The company is 100% owned by a foundation under South African law. The Foundation Board members are the Rector Magnificus of the Technical University of Delft (TU Delft) in the Netherlands and a director of Kids Rights. The foundation will invest the profits from Ubuntu into projects for children in local townships. It is the intention of the Foundation to transfer the leadership within 3 years fully into African hands.
Students of TU Delft, together with the Dutch Foundation Kids Rights and businesses sponsors will set- up two factories: one in Durban and one in Bronkhorst Spruit.
The set-up of factory in Durban is well underway; start production is foreseen for May 2010. In the factory sustainable design flip-flops ('plakkies' is the South African word for flip-flops) will be made of regrind car tires. These flip-flop are designed by famous designers in co-operation with students of the Faculty of Industrial Design (TU Delft) and a shoe manufacturer and renowned designers from the Netherlands and South Africa. The colourful patterns on the flip-flops is designed by orphans from the townships. The flip-flops will be sold from on the market through retail and gift shops.
In the factory in Bronkhorst Spruit sustainable design flip-flops will be made of authentic used tires. These flip-flops belongs to the 2nd line slippers and will be sold in 2010/2011 on the international market.
In the factories much emphasis is on education, health and safety aspect of the labourers.
The Ubuntu company will create structurally jobs for 2x50 primarily HIV infected patients from slums. In average each worker will maintain with his / her pay about 10 people. This means that Ubuntu build a life for 1,000 people from slums.
The Ubuntu company has requested Imtech:
- to investigate whether an optimal balance between capital intensive and labour intensive technologies is applied in the production process. Also a optimal flow through the activity centres must be found;
- to develop a machine which will be used to strip layers from used car tyres. From these layers the Ubuntu company will produce soles for their flip-flops.
More information
If you would like more information about CSR at Imtech, go to www.imtech.eu/csr. The latest CSR newsletter is available here.
If you would like to know more about SSDC, go to www.imtech.eu/ssdc. The latest SSDC newsletter is available here.
If you would like to join the SSDC community, please fill in the newsletter registration.